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Introduction
Ear Infections
Immunotherapy for
Atopic Pets
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Ear disease (‘canker’, otitis externa) is a common, recurrent problem in many dogs, and some cats. Treating the secondary infections will often result in only a short to medium term resolution. Recurrence is very likely unless the primary cause is detected & treated.
The ear(s) may be inflamed only, or inflamed and infected with any combination of yeast, round or rod-shaped bacteria, and/or with parasites.
By examining a stained ear wax preparation, I can immediately diagnose and ‘stage’ the degree of infection and inflammation. This allows us to decide on more specific diagnostic tests and targeted treatments. It also provides me with an accurate method of monitoring the response to previous, recent treatments.
The factors, causing ear canal inflammation & infection, can be divided into three categories - primary, predisposing & perpetuating – listed below. Examples of the most common causes are given:
Primary causes
These factors directly induce ear inflammation (otitis externa):
• Hypersensitivity Atopic dermatitis (the most common cause)
• Adverse food reactions (food allergy or dietary intolerance)
• Parasites Ear Mites Otodectes cynotis
• ‘Fox’ mange Sarcoptes scabiei
• Microorganisms ‘Ringworm’ Microsporum canis (Dermatophytosis) etc
• Foreign bodies Grass seeds
• Keratoseborrhoeic Hypothyroidism
• Local Glandular disorders
• Autoimmune diseases
• Viral
• Miscellaneous
Predisposing factors
These increase the risk of development of ear disease but do not directly
induce it:
• Conformation
• Excessive moisture ‘Swimmer’s ear’
• Excessive cerumen (wax)
• Treatment effects
• Obstructive disease
• Systemic disease
Please note the first factor, conformation of the ear,
does not directly cause ear disease. This is a common misconception. If
this was true then all dogs with large, floppy, and/or hairy ears would
have recurrent ear infections.
Perpetuating causes
These factors prevent resolution of the disease.
• Bacteria
Staphylococcus intermedius Pseudomonas sp.
• Yeast
Malassezia pachydermatis
• Progressive pathological changes (from chronic inflammation and recurrent infections)
• Otitis media (middle ear disease)
Therefore the more infections that a patient undergoes the more difficult it may be to reverse the progression of the ear disease.
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| Canine Otitis – Malassezia • Yeast overgrowth causes recurrent, malodourous, itchy ear infections often the primary cause is allergies, especially Atopic dermatitis |
| Feline GIT Lymphoma
Pinnal Thrombovascular Necrosis • The unusual frostbite-like tips of this cats ears (Pinnal Thrombovascular Necrosis) were caused by a rare reaction to an intestinal tumour Lymphoma |